Proclamation: Final notice to Musharraf in Ghazi murder case issued

ISLAMABAD: A sessions court on Saturday issued a final notice to former president Pervez Musharraf to appear in person in the Abdur Rasheed Ghazi murder case on June 25.

Sessions judge Pervaizul Qadir Memon has issued a proclamation for absconding to Musharraf. If the former president fails to appear before the court on June 25, the court may declare him to be a proclaimed offender.



The court has also issued notices to Musharraf’s  guarantors --- Capt (retd) Nazir Ahmed and Jan Mohammad. The guarantors had submitted surety bonds of Rs100,000 each when Musharraf was granted bail by a sessions court in November 2013.

The sessions court issued non-bailable arrest warrants for the former president in the case on February 20.

Ghazi’s son Haroonur Raheed Ghazi, who had lodged the FIR and is the plaintiff, though his counsel Tariq Asad, had requested the court to declare Musharraf a proclaimed offender for failing to appear before the court despite issuance of non-bailable arrest warrants.

On the flip side, Musharraf’s lawyer Malik Tahir Mehmood filed an application in the same court challenging the arrest warrants. He maintained that his client was abroad for medical treatment and was thus unable to attend court proceedings. Mehmood said he could represent Musharraf and the case could move forward without Musharraf’s appearance in court.



Abdul Rasheed Ghazi was killed during the Lal Masjid operation in 2007.

The Aabpara police later registered a murder case against Musharraf on the directions of the Islamabad High Court on September 2, 2013. The former president was arrested in October 10 and was granted bail by a sessions judge on November 4, 2013.

On Saturday, SHO Aabpara Muhammad Yousaf also appeared before the court. He informed the court that Musharraf could not be arrested as he was abroad. He said the police were also unaware of the whereabouts of the former president.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 22^nd, 2016.